The Way of the World - 1931 - Broadway Articles Page 10

You are sitting in the cinema. Hunkered down in your seat. The lights begin to dim, filling the cinema with darkness; the room falls silent.

Always looking for new worlds to conquer, Gioachino Rossini wrote GUILLAUME TELL in French, as Paris became the center of the opera world. Despite his successes there, this was to be his operatic swan song, a story glorifying a revolutionary character--with a message that resonated, loud and strong, at the performance the night after the troubling American election.

A gripping struggle to hold on to morality during the hardest of times. Experience Felix Mitterer's enthralling drama based on the life and death of Franz Jagerstatter (1907-1943), an Austrian farmer who refused to fight on behalf of Hitler because of his faith, morals and ideals. Mitterer depicts Franz, who was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, as a courageous but insecure human being - and not at all as a saint.  

Have you ever wanted to spend time with Stephen Sondheim in the lobby during one of his shows? Did you know that Patti LuPone once had a Broadway ghostly encounter? Have you wondered what it was like to be in the landmark Broadway premiere of Angels in America?

The National Symphony Orchestra, led by guest conductor Jacomo Bairos, launches its second season of DECLASSIFIED at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Friday, November 18, with composer/performer Bryce Dessner, the multifaceted guitarist of the indie rock band The National. This season builds on the momentum of last year's inaugural season of DECLASSIFIED concerts, with integrated activities and aesthetics in the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer, pre- and post- concert. All tickets are $39.

From October 21 - November 20, 2016, SpeakEasy Stage Company will proudly present the New England Premiere of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, a bold new musical by Broadway legends John Kander and Fred Ebb about a sensational true story that changed American history. 

Vampires have become such an essential part of American culture, even if they are only fictional beings; from one of the first allusion to them in Polidori's The Vampyre to more modern takes on this age-old creature, it is amazing how vampires have become the talk of the town - the town being in movies, the written word and now, in this premiere on Cape Cod. DiVincenzo understands their importance, making reference to the Lugosi's famous film legacy. 'I feel like it's a timeless story. Dracula is an icon. I think it's an indelible mark that 1931 film made in our culture. What we're giving [audiences] now is a much younger approach to the Dracula story.'

Some of Seattle's most talented actors will be hard at work in collaboration with writers from around the country in the rehearsal halls of The 5th Avenue Theatre this month as the company's NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals launches its three week intensive development cycle this weekend.

THE AYE, a stage show adapted from Ana Isabel Ordonez's internationally acclaim ed book, THE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE STORY OF AYE AYE AND FEDOR, will be performed to celebrate the 85th birthday of Nobel Peace Laureate Monsigneur Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a part of the Sixth Annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Conference in Cape Town on 7 October.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock today announced the casting and schedule for the Company's summer 2018 presentations of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). The four-opera cycle of Das Rheingold,Die Walkure, Siegfried and Gotterdammerung-widely considered the greatest and most ambitious work ever conceived for the lyric stage-will be presented in three complete cycles from June 12 through July 1, 2018. 

Playwright Robert O'Hara's BARBECUE deservedly earned a rousing reception (and standing ovation) from The Geffen Playhouse's enthusiastic opening night audience September 14.  BroadwayWorld and I had a chance to chat with O'Hara's frequent collaborator, actor/playwright/director Colman Domingo a few days after his directorial success.

Known as 'the only podcast that shows you Broadway from the inside out,' The Ensemblist podcast has become the champion of the unsung performance heroes and inner workings of the theatre world. Co-created and co-hosted by Nikka Graff Lanzarote (Chicago, Women on the Verge) and Mo Brady (SMASH, The Addams Family), the podcast has covered everything from the Gypsy Robe ceremony, to the audition process, to what it's like to be a Broadway babysitter during its first three years on the air. Now, following a successful first season covering the 'Ensemblist Essentials,' this past spring, The Ensemblist is entering into its second season (check out the first episode below!) and I sat down to talk with Nikka and Mo about how the podcast has grown, what it looks like to balance careers in the arts with being podcast masters, which Broadway ensemble they'd like to join, and more-check out the full interview below!

Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and Syfy today announced they have signed Grant Morrison (“Batman,” “The Invisibles”) and Brian Taylor (“Crank,” “Gamer”) to adapt Aldous Huxley's novel “Brave New World” for Syfy with Amblin Television.  Morrison and Taylor will also serve as executive producers, along with Amblin Television Co-Presidents Darryl Frank (“The Americans,” “All The Way”) and Justin Falvey (“The Americans,” “All The Way”).

McDaniel College offers a variety of art, music, theatre, literary, film and other events during the fall of 2016.

Based on Ben Hecht's books A Guide For the Bedevilled and A Child Of the Century, in which Hecht confronts his own identity as an American Jew in the wake of the Nazi Holocaust, THE BEN HECHT SHOW begins today, June 10 and continues through July 17, 2016 at Piven Theatre at Noyes Cultural Center, 927 Noyes St. in Evanston. Tickets are currently available at grippostagecompany.com. The press opening is Tuesday, June 14 at 8 pm.

The musical OKLAHOMA! runs from June 3rd through June 19th at the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City (2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA).

Today's the day! The 2016 Pulitzer Prize Winners and Nominated Finalists will be announced in just minutes- April 18 at 3pm eastern daylight time via live-stream on pulitzer.org.

Today's the day! The 2016 Pulitzer Prize Winners and Nominated Finalists will be announced on today, April 18 at 3pm eastern daylight time via live-stream on pulitzer.org.

Nashville Children's Theatre (NCT) this morning announces its 85th Anniversary season. Since 1931, NCT has been leading the way in providing professional theatre to young audiences. As the oldest professional children's theatre in the nation, NCT is proud to continue its mission to provide extraordinary theatrical experiences to youth, families and adults.

We've got some headline news this evening! 'Front page' news, even. According to the Chicago Tribune, Broadway veteran Nathan Lane and MAD MEN star John Slattery have signed on to lead a new Broadway revival of Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's play THE FRONT PAGE this fall.

Broadway has given the world some of it's greatest songs, but the Broadway beginnings of some classics aren't known to all.

Marking the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Edo de Waart will present two performances of William Walton's Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario tonight and tomorrow, March 19 at 8:00 p.m. and March 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

The fascinating life of Chicago newspaperman turned legendary playwright, screenwriter and novelist Ben Hecht takes center stage in Grippo Stage Company's world premiere of THE BEN HECHT SHOW, written and performed by James Sherman and directed by Dennis Za?ek.

Marking the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Edo de Waart will present two performances of William Walton's Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario on March 19 at 8:00 p.m. and March 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Joining the orchestra for Henry V will be actor Marcus Truschinski of American Players Theatre, the Milwaukee Children's Choir Voices of ETERNA directed by Marco Melendez, and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus directed by Lee Ericson. Walton's work will be paired with Haydn's “Drumroll” Symphony for a dramatic concert experience.

Scot Copeland, longtime producing artistic director of Nashville Children's Theatre and one of the world's leading proponents of theater for younger audiences, died during the overnight hours of February 25 from an apparent heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Rene Dunshee Copeland, producing artistic director of Nashville Repertory Theatre, his two sons, many family members and countless 'chosen family' and friends all over the world.